Get Anki Free On iPhone: The Best Way To Study Smarter (And A Better Alternative Most People Miss) – If you’re trying to save money but still want powerful flashcards on your iPhone, this guide walks you through how to get Anki and why apps like Flashrecall might actually be a better deal.
Want to get Anki free on iPhone? Here’s why AnkiMobile is paid, why hacks are risky, and how a free-to-start Anki-style app like Flashrecall actually solves it.
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So… Can You Actually Get Anki Free On iPhone?
So, you’re trying to get Anki free on iPhone and avoid paying if you can, right? Here’s the thing: Anki itself is free on desktop and Android, but AnkiMobile on iPhone is paid and there’s no legit way to get that app for free from the App Store. If you want something that feels like Anki but is actually free to start, Flashrecall is a much better option: it has AI-powered flashcard creation, spaced repetition built-in, and it’s free to download on iPhone and iPad here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
If your goal is to study more efficiently without paying upfront, you’ll honestly get going faster with Flashrecall than trying to hack around Anki’s iOS situation.
Why Anki Isn’t Free On iPhone (And Why That Matters)
Let’s clear this up quickly:
- Anki desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux) → Free
- AnkiDroid (Android) → Free
- AnkiMobile (iOS/iPhone/iPad) → Paid, one-time purchase
The reason is simple: the iOS version helps fund Anki’s development overall. It’s not a subscription, but it’s also not free.
So if you’re searching “get Anki free on iPhone,” you’re basically stuck with three options:
1. Pay for AnkiMobile
2. Use a different flashcard app that’s free to start
3. Try sketchy workarounds (which you really shouldn’t)
Let’s talk about those.
Why You Should Avoid “Free Anki” Workarounds On iPhone
You might see people on Reddit or random sites suggesting things like:
- Downloading modified IPA files
- Using third-party app stores
- Sharing paid Apple IDs
Honestly? Don’t.
Here’s why that’s a bad idea:
- Security risk – Modified apps can be full of malware or trackers.
- No updates – You’ll miss bug fixes and new features.
- Apple bans – Using shady app stores can get your Apple ID or device flagged.
- Ethics – It’s basically piracy. The devs who built Anki deserve to be paid.
If money is tight or you just don’t want to pay yet, you’re way better off using a legit free-to-start alternative like Flashrecall instead of trying to pirate AnkiMobile.
The Smarter Option: Use A Free-To-Start Anki Alternative On iPhone
If your main goal is:
- Spaced repetition
- Active recall
- Easy flashcard creation
- Syncing across devices
…you don’t need Anki specifically. You just need a good flashcard + spaced repetition app.
That’s where Flashrecall comes in.
👉 Download it here (free to start):
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Flashrecall basically gives you what people love about Anki, but with a way nicer experience and some extra superpowers.
Flashrecall vs Anki On iPhone: What’s Actually Better?
Let’s break it down in a simple way.
1. Price & Access
- AnkiMobile (iOS):
- One-time paid app
- No free trial
- Flashrecall (iOS):
- Free to download and start using
- You can test it properly before spending anything
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
If you’re a student or just broke (we’ve all been there), being able to start for free is a big deal.
2. Card Creation: Manual vs Instant AI
With Anki, most of the time you:
- Copy/paste text
- Type questions and answers manually
- Tweak formatting yourself
With Flashrecall, you can still make cards manually, but you also get AI-powered creation from almost anything:
- Photos – Take a picture of textbook pages, notes, slides
- Text – Paste lecture notes or summaries
- PDFs – Upload and turn them into flashcards
- Audio – Use audio content and generate cards
- YouTube links – Turn videos into flashcards
- Typed prompts – “Make flashcards about cardiac physiology” → done
That means instead of spending hours building your deck, you spend your time actually studying it.
3. Spaced Repetition & Active Recall (Built-In, No Setup)
Anki is famous for its spaced repetition, but you have to:
- Choose or tweak settings
- Understand how intervals work
- Deal with a slightly clunky interface
Flashrecall keeps what matters:
- Spaced repetition is built-in
- Active recall is built-in (you see the question, try to remember, then reveal the answer)
- Auto reminders – it reminds you when it’s time to review, so you don’t have to think about scheduling
You just open the app, tap your deck, and it tells you exactly what to review that day.
4. Ease Of Use & Design
Let’s be honest: Anki is powerful, but the UI is… not exactly modern.
Flashrecall is:
- Fast
- Clean
- Easy to figure out without a YouTube tutorial
- Designed with iPhone and iPad in mind
If you like apps that “just work” and don’t feel like a 2005 program, Flashrecall will feel way nicer to use daily.
5. Learning Support: Chat With Your Flashcards
This is something Anki doesn’t really do.
In Flashrecall, if you’re stuck on a concept, you can literally:
- Chat with your flashcard
- Ask questions like “Explain this in simpler words” or “Give me another example”
- Get extra explanations without leaving the app
It’s like having a mini tutor built into your deck.
6. Offline Study & Reminders
Both AnkiMobile and Flashrecall support offline use, which is huge for:
- Commuting
- Flights
- Studying in places with bad WiFi
Flashrecall also has:
- Study reminders – gentle nudges to keep you consistent
- Sync across iPhone and iPad, so you can review anywhere
How To Start Studying Today (Without Paying For AnkiMobile)
If your original plan was to get Anki free on iPhone, here’s a simple, legit way to start studying effectively today:
Step 1: Download Flashrecall
Grab it here (free to start):
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Install it on your iPhone (and iPad if you have one).
Step 2: Create Your First Deck In 2 Minutes
You’ve got options:
- Manual:
- Create a new deck
- Add cards with question/answer (like “What is mitosis?” → “Cell division process…”)
- From notes or textbook:
- Paste your notes or copy a section from your ebook
- Let Flashrecall generate cards automatically
- From images:
- Snap a photo of your class notes or slides
- Turn them into flashcards instantly
This is where Flashrecall really beats pure Anki-style manual card creation. It’s just way faster.
Step 3: Start Reviewing With Spaced Repetition
Open your deck and start a study session:
- You see a question
- You try to recall the answer (active recall)
- Tap to reveal it
- Mark how well you remembered it
Flashrecall then:
- Schedules the card for later using spaced repetition
- Reminds you when it’s time to review again
- Keeps your daily load manageable so you don’t get overwhelmed
You don’t have to think about intervals, algorithms, or settings. It just works.
Step 4: Use It For Anything, Not Just Exams
Flashrecall isn’t just for school. People use it for:
- Languages – vocab, phrases, grammar patterns
- Medicine / Nursing / Pharmacy – drugs, conditions, lab values
- Law – cases, definitions, rules
- Business / Tech – frameworks, interview prep, terminology
- Random personal stuff – names, capitals, quotes, trivia
If you can write it down, you can turn it into a flashcard.
So… Should You Still Buy AnkiMobile?
Here’s a balanced take:
- You already use Anki heavily on desktop and want perfect sync
- You’re super deep into custom add-ons, templates, and niche workflows
- You’re okay paying upfront and don’t care about AI features
- You wanted to “get Anki free on iPhone” because money is tight
- You want something free to start and easy to try
- You like the idea of AI-generated flashcards from notes, PDFs, images, or YouTube
- You prefer a clean, modern interface
- You want built-in chat, explanations, and learning support
- You’re on iPhone/iPad and just want a smooth, fast experience
Nothing stops you from using both, by the way. But if you’re starting from scratch on iPhone and don’t want to pay right now, Flashrecall is honestly the more practical choice.
Final Thoughts: The Real Answer To “Get Anki Free On iPhone”
To wrap it up:
- No, you can’t legitimately get AnkiMobile for free on iPhone. It’s a paid app.
- Yes, you can absolutely get Anki-style spaced repetition and flashcards for free to start using apps like Flashrecall.
- And in many ways, Flashrecall actually goes beyond Anki with AI flashcard creation, chat-based explanations, and a smoother iOS experience.
If your real goal is to learn faster, remember more, and not blow your budget, just grab Flashrecall and start today:
👉 Download Flashrecall on iPhone/iPad (free to start):
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Spend your time learning, not hunting for sketchy ways to “get Anki free on iPhone.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anki good for studying?
Anki is powerful but requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Flashrecall offers AI-powered card generation from your notes, images, PDFs, and videos, making it faster and easier to create effective flashcards.
What's the fastest way to create flashcards?
Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.
How do I start spaced repetition?
You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.
Related Articles
- AnkiDroid For iPhone: The Best Alternative Apps And The Powerful Study Hack Most Students Don’t Know About – Before You Give Up On AnkiDroid On iOS, Read This
- Download Anki Desktop: Better Alternatives, Pro Tips, And A Faster Way To Study With Flashcards – Most Students Get This Wrong (Here’s What Actually Works)
- Flashcards Online Anki: The Best Way To Study Smarter (And A Better Alternative Most People Miss) – If you’re searching for flashcards online Anki-style, you’ll want to see this before you commit.
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Try Flashcards in Your BrowserInside the FlashRecall app you can also create your own decks from images, PDFs, YouTube, audio, and text, then use spaced repetition to save your progress and study like top students.
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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FlashRecall Development Team
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